…As they move to phase out roadside vending
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have made strides to adopt the smart city concept here which will see informal traders formalizing their businesses by moving from undesignated vending cites into proper and well serviced market places.
The markets are to be operated on a build, operate and transfer basis.
Masvingo provincial chairperson for SMEs Venancio Kurauone recently lobbied Chiredzi Town Council (CTC) during the 26th ordinary full council meeting held at council boardroom to help their association towards their vision of the Smart City concept.
The initiative will see its members moving away from the undesignated vending sites into more formal business sites.
Addressing councilors, Kurauone said the SMEs are moving to adopt the smart city concept on a Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) concept.
“As SMEs, we have also adopted the smart city concept on a Built Operate and Transfer basis. So the land that belongs to council will be leased to us on a BOT basis. So we are currently targeting two places that is opposite N Richards and the existing flea-market that shares land with the civic center.
“We are going to upgrade those places and traders currently operating there will be the first beneficiaries of the concept and we will incorporate more. This will persuade people to vacate their roadside vending stalls which are undesignated,” said Kurauone.
Chiredzi Town Council vice chairperson Ropafadzo Makumire who was chairing the meeting said council will look into the deal and respond in the earliest possible time.
“We have heard your presentation and we are going to deliberate the matter as council and get back to you in the earliest possible time,” said Makumire.
Chiredzi was slowly becoming shanty with street side vending promoting environmental pollution.
